Here’s more on the debt limit controversy that is instructive — two short videos, in fact, that punch above their weight for what they tell us. One is a lesson about a dangerous policy. The other is an example of the dangers of the corruption of political speech.
First, our friends at Public Notice Research & Educational Fund, which does some of the best work in the country on educating citizens on the seriousness of the explosion of big government, have produced an ad that is going viral almost as fast as Barack Obama and Harry Reid can borrow, print and spend money (more than 470,00 views after only two days). Its instructiveness is a straight-up, in-your-face explanation on the calamitous nature of the national debt. Public Notice has set up a new web site dedicated entirely to Washington’s failure to manage our money and to further educate the public on this vital issue. It’s called washingtoncouldlearnalot.com. Here’s the ad:
Washington politicians are addicted. An intervention is needed . . . by American voters.
The second video is of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (who’s never held a private sector job) responding to a question from Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Mr. Wallace simply asks where President Obama’s debt ceiling plan is since he has not put out a legislative proposal to Congress. Mr. Geithner employs two of The Left’s most vicious tricks. First, he says there is a plan although there is no plan; a non-plan is the plan. Calling night “day” doesn’t make it so, except in liberal land. He also adds that Republican debt plans would “devastate the country,” as if his 9.2 percent unemployment, nonexistent GDP growth, rising food, gas and commodity prices, and the entire litany of our economic troubles are not devastating the country.
He also adds a twist, a newer leftist tactic: It’s not fair to cite facts. Facts, you see, are out of bounds, and besides, it’s not our fault. The Left projects what it decides what it wants your words to mean. It’s all about redefinition (as with marriage and any institution it wants to co-opt to transform our culture). Only political rhetoric? Hardly. It’s a calculated method of muddying the dialogue to obfuscate goals and demonize opponents. Listen in:
Multitasking Geithner-style: Mismanaging the country’s finances while redefining the language.
Two short videos. Two significant lessons.
[...] Debt Limit Debate Teaches Us More Than About Country’s Mismanaged Finances [...]
The irony is, what fueled the nearly 20 years of uninterrupted growth up to the recession is Americans engaging in the same type of behavior the FF chastises liberals for: spending money they don’t have on things they don’t need. In other words debt is what fueled the growth! Oh, and since the so-called “job creators” have been enjoying the Bush tax cuts for about 5 years now, were are the jobs? Rather than hire workers, the cash-rich “job creators” have found they can produce substantial profits and endear themselves to shareholders by eliminating jobs rather than creating them and reducing worker’s benefits to increase their bottom line. Meanwhile, they enjoy extended the tax breaks and subsidies meant to encourage hiring. Is it any wonder the sales of luxury goods are up 12% during the recession while so many other Americans struggle?
Meanwhile, worker wages have been stagnant and income inequality has been rising for well over a decade – long before President Obama took office. And company-provided health care and retirement pensions are becoming a thing of the past. The end result is the American consumer has cut back on the spending that fuels our economy. They are now cognizant of the fact that the powers that be are keeping an ever larger share of the pie for themselves. If the GOP gains complete control they may indeed get the debt under control. But the income/wealth disparity will become even more pronounced.
MS: Usually, people tread not where they do not know for fear of embarrassment. Again, you show ignorance of the topic at hand.
First, you prove the point of the post by changing the subject and inserting motives where none exist.
But to your points, you have no idea of what you write. The two issues are completely different. You are, either out of ignorance or, as the post points out, demagoguery, mixing two different things.
The Bush tax cuts are for individuals. Individuals who own small businesses often organize their businesses so as their revenue are filed as their incomes. So, the owners of small businesses, which do about 70% of the job creation, get whacked by high taxes on the “rich” — their income is the business income, meaning high taxes on $200K for a family of 4 or 5 plus investment in the business makes it near impossible to hire.
You rant mad about the corporations hording cash. They are. But the US has one of the highest corp tax rates in the world. Your boys in Communist China have a lower corp tax rate than we do. This is why corps are shipping jobs overseas. You want them to hire, lower the (30 or 35% corp tax rate, forgot which). But it is much too high to compete.
As for jobs after the Bush tax cuts — we had 5% unemployment during those years and growing revenue to the treasury — which Congress spent. But now, if you dislike the “Bush Tax Cuts” you can’t blame him. After last Dec’s extension, they are now the Obama Tax Cuts, passed by a Dem Congress. Your blame is misplaced as is your demagoguery.
Obama is a complete incompetent. Never held a job in the private sector. Knows NOTHING about the real world. It’s a disaster under him. How can you defend him? Record high unemployment, gas prices, home values down, record spending, record debt. He blames Bush. That can only get you so much mileage. He has no responsibility for anything? Are you kidding me? He sought the job. He knew what he was getting into. But I guess people like you who worship him really think he’s super human and can make no mistake.